The Springfield Summer Arts Festival opens this Friday, June 13, and runs through Sunday, June 15, filling Court Square Park and the Springfield Arts Center with live performances, interactive installations, and family workshops. Admission to all outdoor programming is free; indoor ticketed events start at $15.
What's On This Year
The 2024 festival brings together 40 local artists and 8 national acts across three stages and four gallery spaces. Genres range from classical and jazz to hip-hop, contemporary dance, and spoken word. Visual art programming includes interactive light installations after dark, a juried exhibition of regional painters in the Arts Center's Main Gallery, and hands-on printmaking workshops led by Springfield-based collective Ink & Elm.
Confirmed national performers include jazz vocalist Amara Fields (Friday, 8 p.m., Main Stage) and contemporary dance company BodyCartography Project (Saturday, 7 p.m., Dance Pavilion). The full schedule, including set times and stage maps, will be released Thursday at springfieldarts.org/summerfest.
Friday Opening Night
The festival launches at 6 p.m. on the Court Square Park Main Stage with a community procession led by the Springfield Youth Drumline, followed by Amara Fields's headlining set at 8 p.m. The evening closes with Lumina, a participatory light installation by local artist duo Elena Voss and Marcus Chen, active from 9:30 p.m. to midnight.
Weekend Programming Highlights
Saturday and Sunday feature continuous free programming in Court Square Park from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., including:
- Live music: Local jazz, folk, and R&B acts on the Community Stage; afternoon DJ sets in the Dance Pavilion
- Dance: BodyCartography Project, plus open-air performances by Springfield Ballet and three regional hip-hop crews
- Spoken word: Poetry slams at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday in the Word Tent; open mic sign-ups open at noon
- Family track: Drop-in workshops in screen printing, clay sculpture, and beat-making (Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Family Zone)
- Food and drink: 12 vendors from Springfield's restaurant scene, including two new arrivals: Taco Habit and Mama K's BBQ
Ticketed Indoor Events
Three performances in the Springfield Arts Center require tickets, available online or at the box office (413-555-0123):
| Event | Date/Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Heart, contemporary dance | Friday, 9 p.m. | $25 |
| Springfield Symphony Chamber Ensemble | Saturday, 8 p.m. | $20 |
| Late-night jazz with the Amara Fields Quartet | Saturday, 10:30 p.m. | $15 |
Plan Your Visit
- Dates: Friday, June 13–Sunday, June 15
- Hours: Free outdoor programming, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday–Sunday; Friday opens at 6 p.m.
- Location: Court Square Park (Main Stage, Dance Pavilion, Word Tent, Family Zone) and Springfield Arts Center, 255 State Street
- Admission: Free for all outdoor events; indoor tickets $15–$25
- Transit: Free shuttle runs every 20 minutes from the Springfield Union Station parking garage (9 a.m.–11 p.m.)
- Accessibility: ASL interpretation at all Main Stage performances; wheelchair-accessible routes and seating at all venues
For the full schedule, tickets, and last-minute updates, visit springfieldarts.org/summerfest.
